Falling in Love with a 500-year-old female elder

Chapter 27: The Heavenly Pride Gathers! A Gathering of the Parties!

“Mr. Ning, gather around for the tale!”

“Mr. Ning, you’ve kept us waiting!”

“Come on, come on, it’s been three days, and I’ve been as anxious as a kitten!”

“No! It’s been three days and nine hours!”

Inside the cozy confines of the Seven Blessings Inn, several patrons were clamoring, voices rising in excitement. Seated at a table in the northeast corner of the establishment, “little beggar” Princess Huai Zhu, now incognito, was taken aback. She mused, “Goodness gracious, there are so many people here?”

Surveying the bustling scene around her, she noticed the inn was packed to the brim. There were even shadows of people lingering outside, adding to the throng within. Among them were monks of formidable strength.

“Your Majesty… I mean, Your Highness, are we really allowed to be doing this? If His Majesty finds out, we’ll surely face consequences,” voiced Yan Xue, a maid who was also dressed as a beggar, with a hint of apprehension.

“Don’t worry, Yan Xue. I’ve told you, Father is preoccupied with state matters and won’t notice our absence,” assured Princess Huai Zhu, her darkened complexion radiant with exhilaration. This was her first secret escape from the palace, and the sight of so many people congregating excited her.

“In addition, you mustn’t address me as ‘Your Highness’ anymore. We are beggars now. I am Sister Beggar, and you are Sister Beggar. Got it?” she continued in her eloquent manner, grinning.

Yan Xue, beside her, couldn’t help but palm her forehead, her eyes exuding a sense of unease. She felt as though she had been led astray.

…

Meanwhile, in the northwest corner of the inn, the aloof young man donning a black robe and carrying a sword on his back engaged in conversation with the elegantly dressed youth holding a folding fan.

“Heh, this storytelling event is quite lively,” the fan-wielding youth remarked with a chuckle.

Taking a sip of wine and nonchalantly casting it aside, the young man with the sword retorted, “Boring.”

Unperturbed, the fan-bearer continued, “Why, is it wrong to enjoy some leisure? You spend all your time in that lifeless sword mound practicing endlessly. Why not take a break?”

He added, “Sometimes, by diverting your attention from rigorous training, inspiration might strike, leading to breakthroughs. When I advanced in the Sealed Realm, do you know what I was doing? Drinking flower wine, and guess what? It worked.”

“Look at you, cooped up in the sword mound day in and day out. What’s the result? You’re still struggling with that imposing Great Sword of Destruction.”

He laughed again, saying, “Happiness is essential in life, my dear swordsman.”

The sword-bearing youth promptly interjected, “No, it’s for your own happiness.”

He continued, “You’re probably miffed that your name wasn’t included when they listed the Heavenly Pride alongside Jiang Changfeng’s. So now you’re here to seek some explanation, right?”

The eloquent speaker, Yan Qingfei, hesitated momentarily upon hearing this accusation. Indignant, he responded, “What do you mean it’s for my own happiness? Who do you take me for, Yan Qingfei?”

“Why do I always feel like you’ve dragged me into some mess? Never mind, I can’t reason with you anyway.”

…

In yet another corner, the girl with the red umbrella observed the scene and lowered her head, her shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.

“Hehehe, so many people…”

“I really want to…”

“I really want to…”

“Eliminate them all!!!”

…

Observing from a window seat, Nan Yuexi, adorned in white, furrowed her brows. Something was amiss within the Seven Blessings Inn today. There was an aura that wasn’t there before, emanating from several formidable individuals.

Her lips curled into a faint smile. “Interesting.”

Instead of fear, Nan Yuexi felt excitement at the prospect of encountering strong opponents. She had ventured beyond the palace walls for a taste of life’s adventures, and she relished the opportunity to face powerful foes.

…

Time drifted by as the long-awaited hour arrived. On the second floor of the Seven Blessings Inn, a door opened, and Ning Chuan descended the stairs. Clad in a pristine gown against a backdrop of white clouds, he held a cup of tea in one hand and a paper folding fan in the other. Stepping onto the raised platform, he addressed the eager crowd below.

“You’ve all waited patiently,” Ning Chuan spoke with a gentle smile, casting his gaze across the assembly.

Amidst the anticipation that hung heavy in the air, he took a sip of his tea and unfurled the paper fan with a satisfying ‘swish.’ The story of “The Legend of the Emperor of Heaven” was about to commence.